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test results: 33, supposed to be below 16?
I was recently blood tested for Herpes type 2. My doctor recently me I am positive. He said that my result was 33, and it's supposed to be under 16. This doesn't seem like the same range of numbers I've seen on the tests that most people get. Does anyone know what sort of test I probably got? The doctor didn't seem to know much about which herpes test I needed or got, is it possible that I got the inaccurate one? I thought I asked for IgG, are there more and less effective IgG tests? I'm in the USA, so location shouldn't be an issue.
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It is sad that a lot of providers don't get the accurate picture. I although can't really blame those Family Doctors. Alot of those guys/girls have SO MUCH knowledge that it is hard to keep a handle on every single virus out there. While I agree that they need to keep up on it I think the big thing is that it is a lot of stuff they have to look out for so I can see their side. However, when one isn't sure on the test they should at least take the time to look it up and work on getting you the best treatment / testing.
I am glad you got a result back.
I am glad you got a result back.
Glad you FINALLY got better answers!
I work at a major teaching hospital and still have to do a lot of education for providers :(
it is very frustrating especially when 1 out of every 5 of their patients has hsv2 and needs to be aware of their status.
imagine if you hadn't researched this and went around thinking you had hsv2, took up with a hsv2+ partner and took no precautions thinking you had no need to. you would've ended up with hsv2 needlessly :(
grace
I work at a major teaching hospital and still have to do a lot of education for providers :(
it is very frustrating especially when 1 out of every 5 of their patients has hsv2 and needs to be aware of their status.
imagine if you hadn't researched this and went around thinking you had hsv2, took up with a hsv2+ partner and took no precautions thinking you had no need to. you would've ended up with hsv2 needlessly :(
grace
I just wanted to update you on this situation... I went back in to the doctor, and informed him that I thought I had not received a type-specific test. He said that I had probably not, and I told him I wanted a "herpeselect type-specific HSV igg test" and he said, "ok, herpes-select" and I had to spell it for him... When I finally got the test results back, I was positive for hsv type 1 (around a 1.6 value) and negative for hsv type 2 (<.9). I finally have an accurate result!
I am pretty stunned that I wanted to be really careful and responsible, so I researched STDs and determined I wanted to have a herpes blood test because so many people have no symptoms. So went to my primary gynecologist (at a nationally reknowned women's hospital) who had outdated information and all but refused to give me the test, and then to a second doctor who have me the wrong test and assured me I had tested positive for genital herpes, and then finally went back to the second doctor and had to spell the correct test for him. No wonder this virus is spreading so fast, when the people who are supposed to keep us healthy are so mis/uninformed.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you SO MUCH for your help here. The doctors were really derisive about internet messageboards, but your information and advice was reasonable and correct at every turn. If only doctors would listen to patients informed by people like you, we would all be a lot better off.
I am pretty stunned that I wanted to be really careful and responsible, so I researched STDs and determined I wanted to have a herpes blood test because so many people have no symptoms. So went to my primary gynecologist (at a nationally reknowned women's hospital) who had outdated information and all but refused to give me the test, and then to a second doctor who have me the wrong test and assured me I had tested positive for genital herpes, and then finally went back to the second doctor and had to spell the correct test for him. No wonder this virus is spreading so fast, when the people who are supposed to keep us healthy are so mis/uninformed.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you SO MUCH for your help here. The doctors were really derisive about internet messageboards, but your information and advice was reasonable and correct at every turn. If only doctors would listen to patients informed by people like you, we would all be a lot better off.
You can check the doctor's list on the herpes handbook's site. I know there also used to be a fairly active herpes support group out that way but I have no idea if they are still active or not. they could probably recommend someone for you.
Also, Grace, if you're in PA, do you have any idea about herpes-knowledgeable doctors in pittsburgh?
Thanks so much Grace and Mistakeguy... It's absolutely incredible how hard it is to get the doctors to give a herpes test at all, and then the correct one. I'll see if I can find someone who seems more knowledgeable.
It sounds like you might have had the wrong test. I would request from the office the bloodwork information to be provided to you. I don't think this was an IgG test and if so it wasn't type specific. You need a type specific IgG blood test.
Call your provider to get more information and possible request a re-test. Find out what lab they use. If you can I would suggest seeing if you can go to a Quest or Labcorp for the bloodwork to be done.
Call your provider to get more information and possible request a re-test. Find out what lab they use. If you can I would suggest seeing if you can go to a Quest or Labcorp for the bloodwork to be done.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
grace